Six royal books to read as we celebrate the Coronation

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The start of May is proving to be a rather royal affair with the release of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story as well as the Coronation of King Charles III fast-approaching.

May 6 will see King Charles crowned – with three days of celebrations over the bank holiday weekend.

It’s set to be a rather jolly occasion here in the UK with street parties, bunting and volunteering all planned.

So why not take patriotism one step further and read a royally good book?

Metro has rounded up a brilliant selection, from the BookTok-famous to the biographical. Take your pick.

Red White and Royal Blue

The BookTok sensation Casey McQuiston’s LGBTQ smash hit Red White and Royal Blue had to be first on our list.

This sweet, wholesome and fluffy romance is centred around Alex (who is White House royalty) and Prince Henry (who is actual royalty) and their fake relationship to ‘damage control’, after a confrontation which threatens British/American relations.

The pair’s secret relationship could derail the president’s re-election bid – but it could just be worth it.

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, £8.27

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The White Queen

Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction book The White Queen is the first in The Cousins’ War series, and it doesn’t get much better than this.

Set amid the War of the Roses, Elizabeth Woodville – of the House of Lancaster – is widowed when her husband is killed in battle.

Aided by the witchcraft skills of her mother Jacquetta, Elizabeth seduces reigning king Edward IV, of the family of the white rose, the House of York.

It was even turned into a TV mini series featuring Max Irons and Rebecca Ferguson.

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory, £7.76

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Spare

There’s no denying you’ve already heard about this one.

The bombshell memoir is a huge point on contention for the royal family and it wouldn’t be a Coronation roundup without it.

Harry covers everything in it – from romance and awkward encounters, to feeling like he was the ‘spare’ and his relationship with his brother after their mother Diana died.

Spare by Prince Harry, £14

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The Royal We

It’s a royal romance inspired by Prince William and Kate Middleton. What more do you need?

American Bex attends Oxford University and meets Nick – the heir to the British throne.

Nick is wonderful, but it’s safe to say he comes with some baggage: complex family relationships, press tracking his movements and the expectation he marries a Brit.

What would you sacrifice for true love?

The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan, £7.23

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King Charles III: A Modern Monarch

It wouldn’t be a Coronation roundup without the soon-to-be-crowned king himself, Charles III.

He’s waited 73 years for this moment and as he ascends to the throne this book takes a look at his past.

It explores his rather eventful private life, loss, love and everything that he has achieved.

King Charles III: A Modern Monarch by Alison James, £17.66

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Bridgerton: The Duke and I

For those of you who have been living under a BookTok rock and don’t know that Bridgerton was a book series first, now you do.

Julia Quinn’s Regency era novel follows the gossip around Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings.

Simon wants nothing to do with love, while Daphne wants it all and things get complicated.

Lines are crossed, perhaps wrongly so, but this is a romance that simply cannot be left out of a royal line-up.

Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn, £7.49

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